wisdom from the word of God

Stop Ignoring What Jesus Said: Observe My Commandments

Over the past few months, I have been listening to the
sermons of others on YouTube during my downtime. I do this because I try not to
spend too much time entertaining myself. As I listen to these sermons on a
variety of topics, I often hear specific words of Jesus Christ taken out of
context. I also hear many of these orators ignore statements of Jesus that
appear to be easy to understand. My previous statements are not words of
condemnation. I am writing this to caution the readers to confirm any teaching
you come across in your Bible. Through much prayer and studying, we can discern
the true doctrines that God Almighty has preserved in the Holy Scriptures.

To help
others in their study of the true doctrine of Jesus Christ, we are launching an
additional series on this website. The 2 Olive Trees invites you to read the first
installment of our new series: Stop Ignoring What Jesus Said.

An Overview of the
Reformation

Modern
Christianity has systematically taught that the commandments are done away
with. Most of this teaching is a consequence of Roman Catholic abuse of their
adherents. The Roman Church utilized the teachings of hell and purgatory to
extort many. During the Dark Ages, many people still held to the belief that
they must keep the commandments of God pertaining to conduct. The Catholic
Church was able to use this belief against millions of people to coerce them
into paying for indulgences. After centuries of exploitation, a rebellion
against the “Mother Church” arose within the priesthood. We know this rebellion
as the Protestant Reformation.

In an
attempt to free people from the spiritual stranglehold, some Catholic priests
such as Martin Luther began to assert that God requires no works. Originally
these priests only wanted to reform the Catholic Church; however, the church
was unwilling. As a result, many denominations arose. These denominations
taught most of the same doctrines as the Catholic Church. The major difference
between Catholicism and Protestantism is their teaching on work-based salvation.
Catholicism maintains a set of rituals not found in the Bible while mainstream
Protestantism promotes faith without works.

What Did Jesus
Teach

If we
claim to be followers of Christ, then we should study His teachings intimately.
Jesus Christ had a lot to say about the commandments of God and works. Contrary
to popular belief, Jesus never taught that we do not have to keep the
commandments. Read the following verses carefully:

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the
prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Matt. 5:17)

First
recognize that Jesus is talking to His disciples (Matt 5:1). It is commonly
taught that He is preaching to the multitudes; however, verse 1 indicates that
He went up a mountain and His disciples followed. The multitudes were following
Him because of the healings He executed in Galilee (Matt. 4:23-24). His fame
went through Syria and then groups from different parts of the region began to
follow Him. It becomes plain that Jesus saw the multitudes of people and
decided to isolate Himself by going up a mountain. When His disciples came unto
Him, He began to teach them.

Why
would Jesus have to tell His disciples He did not come to destroy the law?
Jesus knew that His disciples learned what they knew about God’s word from the
scribes and Pharisees. The scribes and Pharisees did not keep the law of God in
spirit and in truth (John 4:24). These religious leaders
were hypocrites, teaching the law but doing the opposite. Jesus’ teachings
appeared to be contrary to their teaching; however, He taught against their hypocrisy,
not the law given through Moses. Did you know that Jesus commanded them to do
what the Pharisees said, but avoid copying their actions?

“Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to
his disciples, 2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees
sit in Moses’ seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid
you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say,
and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous
to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move
them with one of their fingers.” (Matt. 23:1-4)

Yes,
Jesus told the multitude and the disciples to keep what the scribes and
Pharisees taught from the commandments God gave to Moses. Remember, the 5 books
of Moses contain many laws and those laws are made to morally guide all of
mankind. These books deal with marriage, theft, murder, loans, charity,
property, inheritance, and much more. These laws were crafted by the mind of
God. The Ten Commandments are a summary of God’s moral code for man. When you
understand this fact, it becomes obvious that Jesus would fulfill these laws
rather than destroy them. Please read the books recorded by Moses often. These
books contain valuable information about how we are to conduct ourselves and
why.

The Commandments
Are a Salvation Issue

“And he said unto him, Why callest thou me
good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into
life, keep the commandments.” (Matt. 19:17)

Many
try to explain that this verse is for the Jews or that Jesus only said this
because He hadn’t been crucified yet. The only reason for trying to explain
this verse in these ways is to excuse adherence to the Ten Commandments.
Remember, Jesus came to fulfill, not to destroy the law. Willful disobedience
to God’s moral law will lead to spiritual destruction. It is not a light thing
to teach these laws are nailed to the cross. Notice this verse:

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of
these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least
in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall
be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:19)

It’s
important to point out that Jesus did not say those who teach men to break the
commandments will be in the kingdom of heaven. He tells the disciples that
those who do this evil shall be “called
least in the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus Christ is explaining how important
it is to keep and teach the least of the commandments. Depending on what we do,
we will be highly regarded or lowly regarded in kingdom of heaven. Do not
misunderstand these plain words of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Entering
the kingdom of God requires repentance,
then obedience.

Combating Confusion

The
Bible does not teach that the law was destroyed though it does teach that the
sacrifices of the Old Testament cannot compare with the perfect sacrifice of
Christ (Heb. 10:1-10). Remember the law gives mankind the knowledge of
what sin is (Rom. 7:7). The law is not dead. We are to be dead unto sin.

“What shall
we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (Rom.
6:1)

We
cannot continue to live in sin if we have repented and begged for God’s mercy.
Grace is not a license to sin. Being dead unto sin means not letting sin have
influence over your body. Read Rom. 6:6-14. These verses display
the attitude believers should have toward sin.

“What then? shall we sin, because we are
not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” (Rom.
6:15)

Neither Jesus Christ nor the apostles taught that the law was done away with through His sacrifice. They taught we must keep the commandments in a “newness of spirit.” (Rom. 7:6). Just like in our society, the law has no power over you until you transgress it. Being dead unto sin (which is the transgression of the law, see 1 John 3:4) removes the laws power over you. The only way to be free of the law is to be dead unto sin. Your relationship with God requires this level of obedience. It requires the keeping of the commandments, which differentiates between righteousness and unrighteousness.

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and
every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we
love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the
love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous.” (I John 5:1-3)

Jesus
Christ taught His disciples how to keep the law in spirit and in truth. Read
the 5th and 6th chapters of Matthew to
see these plain teachings. After His crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples to
teach the things He commanded them to do. And He commanded them to keep the
commandments.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the
world. Amen.” (Matt. 28:19-20)